Peters



(No Model.)

L. MBSSER.

FASTENING FOR POCKET BOOKS, 8m.

No. 303,941. Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

WITNESSES JQZA/ INVBNTOR a W W r w W Wm b N. FETCRS. har. Wllhinqlm 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE,

LOUIS MESSER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FASTENING FOR POCKET-BOOKS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,941, dated August 19, 1884.

Application filed January 19, 1884.

To all whon't it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS MEssER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Frames of Pocket -Books, Satchels, and other Similar Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fastening for frames of pocketbooks, satchels, and other similar articles, which is composed of an arm secured to onej-aw of the frame and bent so as to extend over the second jaw, a nose or projection formed on this bent arm, and a fingerpiece secured to the second jaw, so that when the two jaws are brought together said nose or projection engages with the second jaw and retains the frame in a closed position,and that by placing the thumb against the fingerpiece and the first finger against the nose or projection the frame can be readily and conveniently opened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of a frame provided with my fastening when closed. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan or top View. Fig. 4 is aside View ofthe frame when it is open.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a frame for a pocket-book, satchel,or other similar article, said frame being composed of two jaws, a, Z), which are connected by pivots c, as usually practiced. On the jaw to is firmly secured an arm, (I, which is bent so as to eX- tend over the jaw b, and on this arm is formed a nose or projection, e, in such a position that when the two jaws are moved toward each other the projection e engages with the jaw b and retains the same in a closed position.

(No model.)

In the example shown in the drawings the projection e is made in the shape of a ball, and when the two jaws are closed up it springs over the rounded top edge of thejaw b, and I consider this shape the most practical which can be selected; but it is obvious that the form of the projection may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention. On the jaw b is firmly secured a finger-piece, f, so that by placing the thumb against the projection e and the first finger against the fingerpiece f the frame can be conveniently open ed. In the example shown in the drawings this finger-piece consists of a ball fastened to the upper end of a stud, which rises from the top of thejaw b,- but it is obvious that the form of the finger-piece maybe changed.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A fastening for the frames of pocketbooks, satchels, and other similar articles,said fastening being composed of an arm secured to one jaw of the frame and bent so as to extend over the second jaw, a nose or projection formed on this bent arm, and a finger-piece secured to the secondjaw, substantially in the manner shown and described.

2. The combination, with a bag-frame consisting of jaws a b, of an arm, (Z, bearing a ball or enlargement, 0, upon its free end, and attached to one of the jaws in a plane parallel with the top thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS .MESSER. [1 s] Vi tn esses:

\V. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER. 

